News & Information

The Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch will begin the 2018 Oral Rabies Vaccination Program’s aerial distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits for wildlife on January 10th. The campaign will distribute approximately 1 million individual vaccine baits along parts of the Texas-Mexico border over a period of approximately two weeks. Target wildlife species include coyotes and gray foxes. Anyone finding one of the vaccine baits is encouraged to leave it alone as wildlife can smell the human scent. The vaccine will not hurt pets or livestock if they consume one of the vaccine baits; it cannot be used in domestic animals as a substitute for the rabies vaccine administered by a veterinarian. You should wash your hands with soap and water if you have skin contact with the liquid portion (vaccine); if you have an immunocompromising health condition, please inform your family physician immediately about your contact with a live vaccine. Contact with a vaccine bait should also be reported to the Zoonosis Control Branch by calling 1-877-722-6725 or 512-776-7255.